“We were like a bunch of teenage girls,” Bassuener said of viewing the NBC drama that ran from 2006-11. “It was more of a soap opera than anything. But we had a good time watching it.”

Bassuener — pronounced “Buh-SOON-er” — recently took over for Shane Boyd as the Talons' starting quarterback. But the 30-year-old also has used his Arena Football League connections to earn stunt-double parts in several football scenes in TV series and movies, including “Friday Night Lights,” “The Amazing Spider-Man” and “The Dark Knight Rises.”

“These football gigs don't come around all that often,” Bassuener. “But I've just been really lucky to get in a good circle right from the start.”

While playing for the AFL's Austin Wranglers in 2008, Bassuener was recruited by teammate Austin Willis, who was already working as a stunt double on “Friday Night Lights.” Bassuener said the show's producers were looking for a “6-foot, white quarterback” — and he fit at 6-2, 205 pounds.

Although he might have only been on camera briefly, he says he loved every minute of it.

“It was such an awesome experience,” said Bassuener, who was the stunt double for one of the main characters, quarterback Matt Saracen, played by actor Zach Gilford.

He is currently shooting scenes for the upcoming film “My All American,” which portrays the story of Freddie Steinmark, a former University of Texas defensive back who won a national championship in 1969 before dying of bone cancer two years later.

When Bassuener first heard about that film he auditioned for the lead role, but he has no acting background. Instead, he will portray a Texas, Baylor and high school quarterback.

The Talons coaches and teammates often joke with him, calling him “Sunshine” — after the blond beach-boy QB character Ronnie Bass in “Remember the Titans” — or just plain “Hollywood.”

“We'll give him a hard time here and there, but he'll go ahead and brush it off,” Talons receiver Brent Holmes said. “At the end of the day, we're just happy for him and that he's able to provide for his family.”

The AFL is a seasonal occupation, and most players work a second or even third job to make ends meet.

“We're doing it for the love of the game,” Bassuener said. “None of us are getting rich playing football. It's obviously a physical game, and you can't do it unless you really love it. After college, I was going to chase down every avenue to keep playing, and I've been fortunate to have opportunities like this.”

Bassuener has played for eight AFL and Indoor Football League teams in the last seven years.

After his 2012 stint with the AFL's Cleveland Gladiators, Bassuener was cast in the recently canceled USA Network pro football-based drama “Necessary Roughness,” where he met Talons coach Lee Johnson, who also worked as an extra.

Because the offense has struggled during the Talons' 1-12 season, Johnson signed Bassuener two weeks ago in hopes of providing a spark.

“I knew he was one who had experience,” Johnson said of Bassuener. “And we really needed a quarterback to pick up the offense.”

Bassuener and the Talons suffered a 70-34 loss in his first start last weekend against the Arizona Rattlers. He passed for 172 yards and accounted for two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) but also had three interceptions.“I'm a new guy, so the biggest thing for me is to build trust and chemistry with the team,” Bassuener said. “I hope my positive attitude carries over. I know there's still a lot of fight in this team, so I'm excited to strap it up for the Talons.”